Egypt will increase its contractual purchases of natural gas from the Israeli Leviathan field under a new agreement starting next year, increasing the country's dependence on imports of this fuel over the long term.

The Israeli company NewMed Energy, a partner in the Leviathan gas field, announced the signing of an amendment to its contract to export natural gas to Egypt, according to a report published on Thursday 7 August on its official page consulted by Ahraminfo.

The agreement reflects Egypt's urgent need for gas, due to strong domestic demand and declining production from its own fields. Although this multi-year contract offers prices lower than those charged on the global market in the short term, it calls into question the North African country's aspiration to become an exporter of this fuel again

The new agreement, signed with the Egyptian company Blue Ocean Energy (dependent on Egypt Oil & Gas Group), foresees an increase in deliveries: around 130 billion cubic meters will be exported, against much lower quantities provided for in the original contract. The new agreement, worth an estimated $35 billion, will eventually replace the current agreement

This additional quantity will be delivered in two steps. The first, which is expected to take effect in the first half of 2026, concerns 20 billion cubic meters (706 billion cubic feet).